4 days ago
Instagram Restricts Digital Rights Group Post Over Alt News Censorship
Software Freedom Law Centre said Instagram blocked its post in India.
The post discussed Instagram removing posts from the fact-checking outlet Alt News.
Instagram said the restriction followed the Union government’s Information Technology Rules.
Alt News had written about a film teaser that described pellet-gun injuries in Kashmir as limited.
Two versions of that post were removed, while a later version stayed online after a reference to Burhan Wani was deleted.
Another Alt News post was removed from Instagram and Facebook.
The digital rights group says these unclear rules may encourage journalists to change their reporting before publishing.
Instagram also restricted several posts by Scroll about Kashmir and pellet injuries.
Software Freedom Law Centre said Instagram restricted its India post about Alt News takedowns.
Instagram told the organisation the action complied with the Union government’s Information Technology Rules.
Instagram removed two Alt News posts analyzing pellet-gun injuries shown in the Chauhaan teaser.
A third version remained online after references to Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani were removed.
Instagram also restricted several Scroll posts about Kashmir, pellet injuries and Bollywood content.
- Who
- Software Freedom Law Centre, Meta’s Instagram, Alt News and Scroll are central to the report.
- What
- Instagram restricted a Software Freedom Law Centre post about Alt News content removals and also blocked several Scroll posts.
- Where
- The restrictions occurred in India on Instagram; one Alt News post was also removed from Facebook.
- When
- The restrictions were reported on Friday, September 18, 2026; the cited Software Freedom Law Centre post was dated September 17, 2026.
- Why
- Instagram said its action complied with the Union government’s Information Technology Rules, while Software Freedom Law Centre said the restrictions were opaque and their reasons were not explained.
Digital rights concerns
Platform and government compliance
Reason for restriction
Digital rights concerns
Software Freedom Law Centre said Instagram did not specify why its post was restricted or explain how the decision could be challenged.
Platform and government compliance
Instagram told the organisation that the restriction was taken in compliance with the Union government’s Information Technology Rules.
Effect on journalism
Digital rights concerns
Software Freedom Law Centre said unclear platform restrictions may lead journalists to self-censor or alter content before publication.
Platform and government compliance
Instagram’s stated position, as reported, was that the action followed applicable legal requirements; it did not provide a more specific explanation in the article.
Content moderation
Digital rights concerns
Software Freedom Law Centre argued that the Alt News takedowns showed opaque censorship regimes can operate without a formal government order.
Platform and government compliance
Instagram removed or restricted some posts while allowing a revised Alt News version and a separate Scroll post to remain available.
Key facts
- Organisation
- Software Freedom Law Centre
- Platform action
- Instagram restricted the organisation’s post in India.
- Stated basis
- Instagram said the action complied with the Union government’s Information Technology Rules.
- Alt News content
- A post analyzed the Chauhaan teaser’s description of Kashmir pellet-gun injuries as “limited damage.”
- Pellet injuries
- More than 6,000 people were injured by pellet guns in Kashmir between July 8, 2016, and February 27, 2017; 728 were hit in the eyes.
- Scroll restrictions
- Instagram blocked four Scroll posts since June, citing “legal requirements.”
- SFLC criticism
- The organisation said opaque moderation can make it difficult to distinguish legitimate moderation from arbitrary decision-making.
Quotes
Software Freedom Law Centre
Digital rights organisation commenting on platform restrictions
“Such opaque moderation practices undermine users’ ability to understand how platform policies are enforced and make it difficult to distinguish between legitimate moderation and arbitrary decision-making.”
scroll.in
“This form of censorship can operate even without a formal government order.”
scroll.in
Sources
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